Any car accident is scary. Even slowly moving car can cause all sorts of damage. A higher speed collision may create terrifying consequences. A car accident takes only a few seconds to play out yet the aftermath can linger for months and years. If you are in a car accident of any kind, there are a few things you’ll need to keep in mind. You may need medical attention. You might need to file an insurance claim. You’ll need to work with professionals who deal with this issue for a living. One of the most important people you’ll want to contact immediately is a car accident lawyer. Car accident lawyers offer the help you need to make sure your interests are truly, legally protected.
One task that all those involved in any accident must confront are insurance issues. Officials from insurance companies need to investigate the accident in great detail in order to determine what happened, who might be at fault and what compensation should be offered. Insurance company officials have a vested interest in reducing any compensation and forcing all involved to pay higher premiums and assume as much financial responsibility as possible. Car accidents lawyers fight on behalf of their clients. They make sure that all insurance companies live up to the requirements of the law and clients are compensated accordingly.
Communication on Your Behalf
After an accident, a person may have been seriously injured. They might be unable to communicate for some time. Relatives can hire a car accident lawyer on their behalf. The lawyer can determine who gets to speak for the injured party. The lawyer can also help by providing a legal means of communication even if the party involved in an accident is able to communicate. They will make sure that any communications between all parties have all legal protections required. They can become the injured party’s voice that makes sure that their legal interests are clearly adhered to for as long as the case continues to march through the court system.
Investigative Mechanisms
Sometimes the reason an accident happened is obvious. One party may immediately admit fault. In other cases, it can be far more complicated. An insurance company and other organizations such as a local police force may need a great more detail in order to determine if any laws were broken. The injured party may also wish to hire an investigator to confirm their version of events. Car accident lawyers can perform these actions for clients. They can also find qualified investigators for their clients who will get the job done.
Worker Issues
A single, ten second car accident can have severe physical results for the parties involved. Someone may have broken bones and internal injuries that require immediate medical attention. A more serious accident may leave the person in need of many months of highly specific medical care. The accident can make it hard for them to get around either temporarily or even permanently. Even a temporary inability to get to work can make it possible for the employee to face the possibility of losing out on a promotion or even being fired. The car accident lawyer can step in and provide the help they need in order to straighten this situation out in their favor. They can help them find access to public transport. They can also make sure an employer follows all necessary rules when it comes to an injured employee.
In short, the accident lawyer will take care of all necessary details on behalf of their client.
How can a lawyer help with a property damage insurance claim
When it comes to filing a property damage claim, having an experienced, knowledgeable attorney working for you can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. Whether it is your automobile that has sustained damage or your property damage claim is to restore your home or worksite to its original condition after natural disasters, floods, fire, vandalism, plumbing problems, mold or mildew infestation or damage caused by someone’s negligence, an attorney can help. They can properly assess the situation, explain your legal rights under the law and get you the compensation you deserve.
Insurance companies are notorious for denying property damage claims or seeking to pay as little as possible to the property owner. Trying to take on the insurance company and get your property damage claim satisfied without competent legal help can be very challenging. The insurance company has a legal department with countless lawyers at their disposal to come up with legal grounds to deny your claim or offer property owners a paltry sum that’s not sufficient to make their property whole. Having an attorney to argue and act on your behalf can go a long way towards getting you the settlement amount to which you are entitled.
An insurance claims attorney can help you with any type of property damage claim covered under your insurance policy. Your attorney will go over your insurance policy to verify the damage your property suffered was indeed covered under your policy. If your property damage claim has been wrongfully denied or the insurance company has undervalued your claim, an insurance attorney can file a lawsuit on your behalf and help you obtain the benefits to which your insurance policy entitles you. The key to success in your property damage claim is consulting with an experienced lawyer as soon as possible.
Filing a property damage claim without proper legal advice and guidance is fraught with danger. If you misspeak or inadvertently provide inaccurate information, the insurance company has a legal right to deny your claim. If you contact an attorney as soon as your property is damaged, they can make sure the claims adjuster gets the pertinent and accurate information and your claim is presented in a manner that will get you the maximum value for the damages your property had. Your attorney will work in your best interest and do their best to ensure you are fully and fairly compensated for the damage to your property.
Acting on your behalf, your attorney will bring in industry experts to assess the damage to your property and tell the court the cost of repairing or replacing it. The attorney will then take all necessary action to make sure the insurance company honors the coverage for which you have paid through your policy and your claim will be paid to the fullest extent. An insurance policy is a legally binding contract and you have the right to expect the insurance company to fulfill that contract. A good attorney will take all necessary legal steps to ensure they do.
If you think you have a property damage claim, contact a fire and flood damage attorney right away. You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain if you hire an attorney to handle your property damage claim. An experienced attorney can quickly identify flaws, errors and omissions in the insurance company’s position, arrange for an out of court settlement and get the damage to your property repaired in a timely manner. However, if it becomes necessary your attorney will fight the case in court and get you the money to repair or replace your damaged property
The Other Driver is Claiming I Am Partially At Fault, What Can I Do?
Here’s a great article by New York DWI Attorney Aaron Wallenstein. Accidents are any number of things. Devastating and life-changing is what they are when death or serious injury is involved. Irritating, annoying, and inconvenient are adjectives used to describe minor accidents in which no one is injured. Handling accidents takes time you don’t have, patience you don’t have, and it requires knowing your rights. If you don’t know your rights ahead of time, call a personal injury attorney to discuss your legal rights when another driver tries to deny responsibility and blame the accident on you. We’re here to help you understand what your rights are in this kind of situation.
Your Rights
You have rights even if someone is accusing you of causing an accident. Many drivers at-fault in accidents want to place the blame on the other driver to save their own insurance company from being held liable so their rates don’t change. If the other driver is blaming you, you might not have anything to worry about.
At the scene of the accident, the police will come to determine what happened. It’s important you’re able to get some clear photos of the accident so you can use them as evidence if it’s needed. The police will use the position of the cars, your statement, the other driver’s statement, and they will take the time to speak with any witnesses that come forward to help determine who is at fault. If the other driver is blamed, they have a smaller chance of being able to place the blame on you. Their only course of action is to tell their own insurance company they didn’t do it, and ask them to start an investigation of their own.
Since the insurance company uses information obtained in the police report, it’s not always possible for them to place the blame on you. Know that they want to, because they don’t want to pay for the damages done to your car or any medical bills you have since the accident occurred.
Determining Fault
Since the police typically determine fault, you have very little to fear if you didn’t cause the accident. It’s usually very easy to determine fault in an accident situation. However, you can increase your chance of being labeled faultless if you work diligently from the time the accident occurs. Even if you don’t think it’s necessary, begin protecting yourself from the start. Take as many photos as you can at the scene of the accident as soon as you can following the accident.
Find witnesses, talk to them, and get their contact information from them if they are willing to share. Ask police to take a look at the photos, speak to the witnesses, and take a look at the evidence. Whatever you do, never admit or insinuate fault at the scene. If you’re not to blame, you won’t say you are. However, you might say something the other driver, police, witnesses, and the at-fault driver’s insurance company view as an admission of guilt. A simple apology following the accident can be an admission of guilt.
The only thing you should say at the accident is factual information you know to be true. Do not speculate, do not say you might have done this or that, and don’t admit you did anything wrong. Keep your personal feelings to yourself, and only repeat the facts.
Call an Attorney
When an accident occurs, you aren’t thinking of legalities. You’re thinking of calling your boss to let them know you won’t be to work on time or your family since you won’t be home on time. You might be thinking of calling your insurance company, a tow truck, and a loved one to pick you up. You’re worried about finding a rental car, and you’re worried about finding someone to help you get to the doctor to be sure you’re not injured.
You might not be worried about legalities, but now is the right time to contact a personal injury attorney so you can discuss your rights. If someone is going to try and place any of the blame on you, now is the time to get your story together so you can begin providing evidence to prove your innocence.
